Method of forming sockets for drop rings



May 16, 1961 G. A. LYON METHOD OF FORMING SOCKETS FOR DROP RINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WT E Filed Nov. 4, 1955 NW l\ 4 A NM W 2%; L25; wi F L Q. 1 MN W J E? Q mnfi a X Ewan-[UT May 16, 1961 G. A. LYON 2,984,001

METHOD OF FORMING SOCKETS FOR DROP RINGS Filed Nov. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6% A Ii .4 5O 52' Fic j Fjqi 57 Z4 @5540 av 41b 5 34,

III/"E 22in r GQOfj' A/berf Lyon ilnite s tates Patented May 16, 1961 METHOD OF FORMING SOCKETS FOR DROP RINGS George Albert Lyon, 13881 W. Chicago Blvd., Detroit 28, Mich.

Filed Nov. 4, 1955, Ser. No. 545,028

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-522) This invention relates generally to a novel method and an apparatus for forming hanger sockets.

Specifically, this invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming moisture proof bomb hanger sockets in the wall of the bomb so as to provide means by which the bomb can be suspended from the underside of the wing of an airplane or the like.

Bomb manufacturers for some time now have been in the process of developing a new typ of streamlined low drag bombs of the 500-2000 lb. type. It will be apprecaited that due to the faster air speeds being developed by presently existing airplanes and further in view of the higher altitudes now attainable by them, conventional bomb constructions must be streamlined and modified so as to allow precision bombing under these more exacting conditions.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel method and an apparatus capable of producing streamlined low drag type of bombs.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for forming bomb hanger sockets in the Wall of a bomb which may be cheaply and efiiciently carried out so as to lend itself to large scale production techniques.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus which is capable of forming contemporaneously a plurality of bomb hanger sockets in the wall of the bomb.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for formulating and attaching bomb hanger studs to the wall of a bomb casing through the utilization of presses capable of developing the required punching power.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus which is capable of producing a moisture proof stud socket and bomb wall connection.

In accordance with the general features of this invention there is provided in a method of providing moisture proof bomb hanger studs on the wall of the bomb casing, the steps of punching and repunching the wall of the bomb to form a counter sunk apertured wall portion, insorting a die member within the casing, inserting a rivet slug through the aperture resting same on the die member, and compressing the slug to mushroom same on radially inner and outer surfaces of the casing wall thereby interlocking the components in unitary relation.

Other features relate to the provision of one form of apparatus adapted to carry out my method and which includes wedgingly cooperable die or anvil members in sertable into the interior of the bomb casing for use in the riveting operation.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view with parts therein for affecting my novel invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the upper and lower die members in engagement with the wall of the bomb casing and showing a punch striking one of the holes in which a stud is to be inserted;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3 showing in greater detail my apparatus and illustrating how the ram strikes the casing wall in effecting my movel method;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing a later step in my novel method and other apparatus for carrying out same;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 5 illustrating how the stud socket is interlocked to the bomb wall; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of a bomb casing showing the stud sockets in a completed state.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference character 10 (Figure 7) indicates gen erally one of a series'of bomb hanger stud sockets which are riveted to the cylindrical wall 11 of the bomb casing 12. It will be appreciated that after'the bomb hanger stud sockets have been formed in the wall of the bomb casing 12 that the other component parts of a completed bomb may be then assembled with the casing 12 including the tail assembly, the power charge and the War head (not shown).

In order to aid in the understanding of my invent-ion I shall now proceed in detail to describe same following generally the steps carried out in my novel method along with a description of my novel. apparatus as effecting each step.

As seen in Figure 1, a pair of slidably adjustable interlocking complementally beveled-type die or anvil members 13 and 14 are disposed in the casing and have opposite ends projecting through the longitudinally opposed openings 15 and 16 of the bomb casing 12. They may be inserted in the casing 12 through openings 16 and are thereafter adjustably assembled within the confines of the casing wall by means of a tongue and socket connection indicated generally at '17 (Figures 1 and 2) connecting the opposed inclined sliding surfaces 18 and 19 of the die members 13 and 14. The members 13 and 14 not only serve as a lower die member in my method but also can support the casing 11.

Each of the wedging die members 13 and 14 have a wedging arcuately curved surface 20- and 21 (Figure 2) which engages in an opposed relation against the radially inner surface 22 of the cylindrical wall 11.

The socket connection 17 is utilized to minimize radial and axial slippage of the die members 13 and 14 relative to one another and in addition, serves to bring the respective arcuately curved surfaces 20 and 21 of the die members 13 and 14 into firm nested engagement with the inner surface 22 of the bomb wall 11 so as to minimize any undesired distortion of the bomb wall as a consequence of working the cylindrical wall 11 as hereinafter will be more evident.

Provided on the die member 13 are suitably four vertical or transverse openings or bores 23 extending through the die member 13, one for each socket 10 to be formed. It will be noted that tongue 24 of socket connection 17 has suitably four openings 25 alignable with bores 23 for purposes hereinafter described.

The dies 13 and 14 are adjusted so that the bores 23 are positioned in a predetermined location relative to the cylindrical wall 11. This predetermined location preferably constitutes the center of mass area of the bomb so that the bomb may be suspended from the underside of a plane in such a manner that there is a uniform distribution of mass relative to the hanger elements (not shown).

The next step of my novel method after the assembly of the dies 13 and 14 within the bomb casing 12 is the insertion of a bomb or casing 12 into a suitable press, a part of which is shown in Figures 3 and 4 in the form of a hold-down die 26. It will be appreciated that the die members 13 and 14 may be assembled within the bomb casing 12 before or after being placed in the press as desired; and that the press may be any conventional double toggle or double acting hydraulic press.

After the bomb casing 12 has been positioned in the press, it will be noted that the hold-down external member 26 is adapted to engage nestingly with the cylindrical outer surface of the wall 12 to prevent any undesired deformation thereof as a result of the steps to follow.

Press rams 27 of predetermined variable diameters as desired are each contemporaneously urged radially inwardly through vertical bores 28 in die member 26. The rams each have a tapered striking terminal 29 and as they strike the wall 11 four countersunk depressions 30 are made with a portion of the metal wall 11 bulging downwardly (Figure 3) and carried by each of the rams Z7 is a second punching ram 31 having a concave striking I head 32. Rams 31 are utilized to punch out suitably four openings or slots 33 from the wall 11 as they move in their respective bores 34. Since the bores 23 and 34 (Figures 3 and 4) are in vertical alignment each of the punched out slugs S is urged into the bores 23 and are adapted to lodge in openings 25. It is in this manner that the slugs S may be readily removed as the die member 13 is withdrawn from the interior of the casing after the rams 31 have been retracted. In other words, the slugs S drop out of the bores after the die members 13 and 14 are disengaged. It is in this manner that the slugs are precluded from jamming and causing difficulty in the disassembly of the die members 13 and 14.

The instant invention concerns itself with having an especially constructed ram 27 which has a first punching head 29 capable of providing counter sunk depressions 30 and a second ram 31 movable within ram 27 to strike out slugs S to form openings 33 each concentric with a counter sunk opening 30 cooperating together to each provide a seat. It will be appreciated that through utilizing a striking ram 31 having a concave striking head 32 that the striking operation is greatly facilitated. As a result of the striking out of the slugs S, counter sunk depression 30 is merged to provide a counter sunk opening 33.

In the next step of my invention, structurally different die and hold-down members 13a and 26a, respectively, are utilized as shown in Figures and 6. The die member 13a is adjustably mounted on the die member 14 in place of member 13 but in the same manner as in the case of die member 13.

The principal difference in the construction between the die member 13 and the die member 13a is that in each case where bores 23 were formerly employed in the die member 13, pockets 35 having radially projecting outwardly inclined or tapered walls 36 are now utilized in the die member 13a.

With respect to the hold-down member 26a, vertical bores 37 of varied diameter are now employed. These bores 37 are not only of a varied diameter different than that of the bores 28 but are alsoadapted to have projecting therethrough rivet forming rams (Figures 5 and 6).

Another feature of the hold-down member 26a is that it is arcuate in configuration so as to be capable of snugly nesting with the outer cylindrical surface 37 of the wall 11 and thereby prevent any undesired deformation in the rivet forming operation.

Since theformationofrivets in the-respective sockets or pockets 45 is substantially the same in each case, the rivet forming operation has only been illustrated in connection with the formation of a single rivet (Figures 5 and 6).

The next step of my novel method after the removal of die member 13 and the insertion and adjustment of die member 13a along with the substitution of hold-down member 26a for member 26, is the insertion of one end 44) of 21 preferably pre-heated annealed rivet blank or slug 41 through the slot 33 with the end 40 resting in the socket 35 of the diemember 13a. The other end 42 (Figure 5) of the rivet blank 41, when the end 40 is in bottomed relationship with the socket 35, projects radially outwardly beyond the confines of the cylindrical wall 11 (Figure 5).

The hold-down member 26a which is carried by the press is then brought into contact with the rivet blank 41. It will be noted that the radially innermost convex tapered endor head 43 of the ram 38 lies slightly below the plane of the lowermost concave surface 44 of the hold-down member 26a so that the ram is utilized in the forming of the rivet blank 41 into an intermediately formed rivet 41a (Figure 5) capable of nesting in countersunk opening 33.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the press is first actuated with the hold-down member 26a urged downwardly with the tapered ram head 43 engaged against the blank 41 and the die members 13a and 14 to compress and mold the rivet blank 41 into an inter? mediately formed rivet 41a (Figure 5).

It will be noted that head portion 45 (Figure 5) of the rivet 41a is mushroomed out in the countersunk opening 33 with the shank 46 collapsed or mushroomed radially outwardly on the underside of opening 33 along surface 22. It is in this manner that the rivet 41a is interlocked with cylindrical wall 11.

After the innermost surface 44 of the hold-down member 26a is brought into nesting engagement with the outermost surface of the cylindrical wall 11, ram 38 is then forcibly urged against and into the rivet 41a and a socket 47 is thereby formed in the rivet 41b thereby forming a completed stud socket 10, As the socket 47 is formed, the metal of the rivet 41a is further deformed from the position shown in Figure 5 to that of Figure 6 where it is forced into snug contact with the under surface 22 about opening 33 into interlocked moisture proof relation therewith. It will be noted that the circular edge 48 is utilized as a die in the formation of the completed stud socket 10.

As is shown in Figure 6, the exterior surface of the rivet head 45 is convexly curved in the curved cylindrical plan of the outer surface of casing 11 so as not to detract from the streamlined characteristics of same.

In view of the foregoing it will now be perceived how the stud is formed and interlocked with the wall 11 and more particularly how portions of the stud interlockingly bear against an intermediate reduced and tapered annular abutment 49.

It is in this manner that moisture proof stud sockets 10 may be provided in the wall of a bomb casing so that the dry powder charge may be preserved in wet weather and the like. Also, the smooth lines of the bomb casing will remain substantially unaltered thereby meeting the need for streamlined bombs.

A further advantageous result which arises in the practice of the instant method and the apparatus used therefore is that a plurality of studs sockets may be contemporaneously formed and secured to the streamlined bomb thus permitting more rapid large scale production.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a method of forming a socket in the cylindrical wall of a casing, the steps of first providing an outwardly opening transverse countersunk hole in the wall, disposing a stud in said hole, radially spreading the outer end of the stud to engage same in the countersunk portion of the hole, spreading radially an intermediate portion between the ends of the stud beyond the inner edge of the hole to engage such intermediate portion with the inner surface of the wall, and thus lock the stud to' the wall and contemporaneously forming an outwardly opening socket in the stud.

2. In the method of claim 1 the step of spreading the outer end of the stud being further characterized by the forming of the outer end surface of the stud so that" it is in cylindrical alignment and flush with the outer'surface of the cylindrical wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Willis Nov. 15, 1904 Zerk Dec. 24, 1912 Bertsch May 15, 1917 Smith h. Oct. 8, 1918 Pierce Jan. 25, 1927 Hopkins Mar. 19, 1929 Schane Oct. 15, 1929 Peters Aug. 26, 1930 Leighton Mar. 10, 1942 Marsh Nov. 24, 1942 Lyon Sept. 7, 1943 Taylorv Nov. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 21, 1914 Germany May 22, 1924 France Ian. 7, 1929 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1947 

